Richard Hammond,Top Gear presenter in crash

[C]

Good news of sorts:

The BBC are now reporting he's moved out of intensive care and into a "high dependancy unit"...

[archamedes]

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c369/ ... AMMOND.jpg

[Craig.]

lmao
glad to hear he's getting better. I have no doubt he'll be back doing top gear in no time. It wouldn't be the same without him so I wouldn't be too upset if they pushed back finishing the series for him to recover.

[C]

Oh dear - is that a photobucket linked image I see before me... :-/

MODERATOR!

[Omag 2.0]

Hmm... I like top gear, think that the presenter is great, but why do people react so emotional to this? Come on, it's spread all over the place in the media, while the man clearly knew what the risk of such extreme cars are! I'm far more moved if I see a little article in the newspaper about yet another little child that got seriously injured after been mown down by a car... I guess it all boils down to beeing famous to get attention...

[C]

Hmm... I like top gear, think that the presenter is great, but why do people react so emotional to this? Come on, it's spread all over the place in the media, while the man clearly knew what the risk of such extreme cars are! I'm far more moved if I see a little article in the newspaper about yet another little child that got seriously injured after been mown down by a car... I guess it all boils down to beeing famous to get attention...

Media hysteria - even more so because he's a journalist, so, "one of them"...

[Hagar]

why do people react so emotional to this?

Beats me. This seems to be a recent phenomenon & I think it's a sign of how much influence TV has on the average person. People see these personalities on their TV screens & think they know them personally.

At the risk of causing offence, the first time I saw anything like it was the hysteria after the death of Princess Di. I never did figure that out.

[archamedes]

the thing that made me laugh is that since they airlifted him, donations to the air ambulance service went through the roof. So basically nobody cared before, until something like this happens. If i said i got airlifted and was saved because of it, and i asked for people to donate, everyone would be like "Yeah, whatever."

[Tweek]

Hmm... I like top gear, think that the presenter is great, but why do people react so emotional to this?

Although you don't know these people on a personal level (recent cases being Richard Hammond, Steve Irwin, Raymond Baxter), it's not nice to have someone you look up to, or are entertained by, harmed in any way, be it injury, or death. The general public can relate to these people, by an interest (examples here being cars, animals and aircraft) or simply because of the entertainment they bring. A sense of humour can help, too, much like with the Top Gear team, or any comedy actors, such as the Monty Python lot.

[commoner]

Although you don't know these people on a personal level (recent cases being Richard Hammond, Steve Irwin, Raymond Baxter), it's not nice to have someone you look up to, or are entertained by, harmed in any way, be it injury, or death. The general public can relate to these people, by an interest (examples here being cars, animals and aircraft) or simply because of the entertainment they bring. A sense of humour can help, too, much like with the Top Gear team, or any comedy actors, such as the Monty Python lot.

...I agree ..........and don't forget you who have close family, there really are guys out there to whom these stars are as close as they will ever come to having loved ones............they grieve for them in the same way you and I would for our family members......and why not?...we welcome them into our homes on a regular basis and they deserve our respect......big time...............just MHO............commoner

BTW Richard Hammond is one of my TV favourites...I wish him all the very best.

[C]

Although you don't know these people on a personal level (recent cases being Richard Hammond, Steve Irwin, Raymond Baxter), it's not nice to have someone you look up to, or are entertained by, harmed in any way, be it injury, or death.

I don't think Raymond Baxter's death can be compared to hysteria surrounding Steve Irwin and the Hamster. He was a well known TV figure throughout his career, was not a celebrity as such, and the (limited) coverage of his death was no more than one would expect.

[Tweek]

I don't think Raymond Baxter's death can be compared to hysteria surrounding Steve Irwin and the Hamster. He was a well known TV figure throughout his career, was not a celebrity as such, and the (limited) coverage of his death was no more than one would expect.

I think it's due to the shocking nature of the incidents with Hammond and Irwin that prompted the media frenzy. Something worth making a story about.

Raymond Baxter's death, although saddening, was hardly unexpected, being 84 years old. Though the reactions were much the same on the aviation forums I've visited - these being the people that knew Baxter, and related to him (mainly the older generation). The lack of media coverage (in comparison to Hammond or Irwin), is probably because he's been out of the limelight for quite a while, and wasn't known by as many people.

[C]

Raymond Baxter's death, although saddening, was hardly unexpected, being 84 years old. Though the reactions were much the same on the aviation forums I've visited - these being the people that knew Baxter, and related to him (mainly the older generation). The lack of media coverage (in comparison to Hammond or Irwin), is probably because he's been out of the limelight for quite a while, and wasn't known by as many people.

Exactly - that was the point I was trying to make...

[Tweek]

Exactly - that was the point I was trying to make...

Well then it's safe to say we agree.

[archamedes]

Hammond 'has taken first steps'





Mrs Hammond has been at her husband's bedside since the crash.



Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond is continuing to recover in hospital, with friend Jeremy Clarkson saying the crash victim has taken his first steps.

The 36-year-old may be moved to a general medical ward in coming days, Leeds General Infirmary said.

It comes after his wife said the family had been "overwhelmed" with messages of support from around the world.

Mr Hammond suffered a "significant" brain injury when he crashed in a jet-powered car on Wednesday.

The accident is being investigated by the BBC, the police and the Health and Safety Executive.

The 36-year-old presenter's condition is said by doctors to be "stable".

A hospital spokesman said on Saturday Mr Hammond was continuing "to make good progress".

"If this continues then he will be moved from the high dependency unit to a general medical ward at some point in the next few days," he said.

'Spoken and smiled'

Mr Hammond's wife Amanda, known as Mindy, said she has had messages from around the world since his accident during filming near York.



Scene of Richard Hammond's crash at Elvington airfield

His co-presenter Jeremy Clarkson, a Sun columnist, said in the paper the father-of-two got to his feet and walked "shakily" to the toilet during the early hours of Friday - just 30 hours after the crash.

Mrs Hammond told the Daily Mirror: "He's starting to look like Richard again. He's tough as hell and on his way back.

"He's spoken and smiled. It's early days and what has happened hasn't really sunk in for him.



"The whole family is overwhelmed by everyone's support. There have been so many flowers, cards and e-mails from around the world.

"To know that so many people love him is astounding. We want to thank everyone for their good wishes and prayers."



Vampire

Estimated top speed: 370mph

Acceleration: 0 to 272mph in 6 seconds

Engine: Rolls Royce Orpheus

Fuel economy: 7-10 gallons per mile

Weight: 2,200 lbs (998kg)

Length: 30 feet (9.14m)



Fellow Top Gear presenter James May said on Friday he believed the injured presenter was "perfectly intact" after the pair had had a conversation at his hospital bedside.

"I'm not a doctor but I am his mate and I believe that deep inside the Hammond I know is perfectly intact," he said.

The presenter had been driving a jet-powered dragster similar to the Vampire used by Colin Fallows to set the British land speed record of 300.3 mph.

Mr Hammond, from Cheltenham, Glos, had to be cut free after the car "veered off to the right" and its parachutes opened during a drive at Elvington airfield.

Primetime Land Speed Engineering, which supplied the car and a support team for the event, said the vehicle "had been prepared and was being operated to the highest of standards".

The BBC said in a statement that it had started an investigation into the accident and promised full co-operation with the HSE.

A BBC spokeswoman also confirmed the final part of the Best of Top Gear, which was due to be screened on 1 October, had been postponed indefinitely.

It would have been broadcast ahead of the new series of Top Gear but the corporation has said it is not in a position to confirm the transmission of the new series. Meanwhile, a group of motoring enthusiasts has raised more than